Bill calls for parent notice if apps don’t meet data standard
(Pa.) Two Pennsylvania lawmakers moved Monday to protect the privacy of student data by introducing a pair of bills, one of which requires parent notification if technology used in the classroom does not meet state data privacy standards.
The bills, authored by Representatives Dan Miller, D-Mt. Lebanon, and Tedd Nesbit, R-Grove City, would also allow schools to enter into third-party contracts for the use of educational software and cloud storage services, as long as they specify that student records remain district property.
“In this digital age, with all of the wondrous advances in technology that our students enjoy, parents need assurance that the data being collected on their children is being properly handled with sufficient privacy and security measures in place to prevent abuses from taking place,” Miller and Nesbit said in a memorandum to fellow lawmakers.
As more teachers rely on online sources to supplement curriculum, administer more computer-based assessments, and schools are required to collect more student information, lawmakers across the nation are increasing moving to update regulations and restrictions aimed at protecting student identifiable data.
In June, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed a bill that prohibited operators of online educational tools from selling student information, using it for targeted advertising or creating student profiles for third-party use.
Last year, Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal signed legislation in their states to phase-out the use of Social Security numbers and ban theBill calls for parent notice if apps don’t meet data standard :: SI&A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: